Israel, Babilonia y El Evangelio del Reino. - Los Evangelios Cronológicos - Episodio 1

The Origins of Pagan Worship and Israel's Role

Historical Context of Pagan Worship

• The traditions of pagan worship to the sun god established in Babylon predate the Tower of Babel incident, influencing religious systems worldwide.

• Israel was chosen by the Almighty as a representative nation to reconcile the world back to the worship of the one true God.

Israel's Religious Evolution

• Despite divine instructions, Israel created its own religion with numerous commandments added to God's original laws from Mount Sinai.

• This narrative is framed as "the greatest story ever told," focusing on Yeshua, the promised Messiah.

Personal Journey and Understanding of Faith

Early Experiences with Religion

• At 17, while preaching in a wheat field in Michigan, I struggled to understand biblical phrases like "the gospel of the kingdom."

• Realization dawned that understanding this gospel was crucial; it represented good news but lacked clarity for me at that time.

Church Involvement and Family Background

• My early church experience began at Calvary Baptist Church where I won a King James Bible for bringing children to summer camp.

• A pivotal moment occurred when I dedicated my life to Jesus at a young age, leading my father to also commit his life to God later on.

Discovering Jewish Roots and Biblical Engagement

Ancestral Heritage

• My family has Jewish roots; my great-great-grandfather founded an Ashkenazi synagogue in Amsterdam despite my immediate family not practicing Judaism.

Growing Up in a Gentile Church

• Raised as a Baptist yet distanced from my Jewish heritage, I memorized extensive scripture during competitive church events.

Shifts in Perspective During Adolescence

Disillusionment with Traditional Church Services

• By adolescence, church services became monotonous; I often found myself falling asleep during sermons alongside other congregants.

Life-Changing Revelations

• A significant shift occurred when peers discussed war experiences; witnessing injuries led me to seek deeper truths about faith and miracles.

Seeking Truth Beyond Conventional Religion

Encountering Divine Revelation

• One night while reflecting alone, I saw words that read "Your word is truth," which transformed my understanding of scripture.

Commitment to Experiencing Miracles

The True Gospel of the Kingdom

Introduction to a Journey

• The speaker reflects on a significant career interruption six months prior, leading to an unexpected adventure that has continued for 50 years.

• He invites the audience to explore the true gospel of the kingdom as taught by Jesus and his disciples in Galilee.

Misconceptions About Jesus' Teachings

• Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples preached a gospel unrelated to his death or resurrection, which contrasts with traditional narratives.

• The speaker critiques popular Christmas traditions, such as the story of the Magi visiting Jesus, claiming they are not biblically supported but rather derived from fictional accounts.

Critique of Western Traditions

• The narrative surrounding the nativity scene is said to be influenced more by literature than scripture, specifically referencing "Wenger," a novel that shaped public perception.

• The speaker challenges listeners who hold onto myths like Santa Claus and Halloween, urging them to seek truth beyond these traditions.

Pagan Influences in Religious Practices

• He discusses how Halloween originated from pagan practices dedicated to deities associated with death and warns against adopting such customs.

• Citing Deuteronomy 12:30, he emphasizes God's commandments against imitating pagan rituals and worshipping their gods.

Historical Context of Religious Celebrations

• The speaker connects various religious observances (like Good Friday and Easter Sunday) back to ancient pagan practices involving fertility symbols and sun worship.

• He explains how certain dates were co-opted by Christianity for celebrations that originally had different meanings in pagan cultures.

Prophecies Regarding Jesus

• Emphasizing Jewish roots, he states that Jesus was sacrificed during Passover rather than on any other date tied to pagan traditions.

• He highlights a specific prophecy about Jesus being in the tomb for three days and nights, arguing that current traditions misinterpret this timeline due to their origins in paganism.

Call for Reflection on Religious Beliefs

• The speaker asserts that many inherited religious beliefs conflict with biblical teachings and urges listeners to reconsider their understanding of these traditions.

• He concludes by questioning whether there is something fundamentally wrong with religious systems if they cannot align with scriptural truths.

Support for Educational Outreach

Support for Evangelism and Production

The Role of Donations in Spreading the Gospel

• Donations provide essential materials such as Blu-rays and support for organizing efforts, enabling professionals to use their talents to spread the gospel through video content.

• Contributions also fund graphics, newsletters, and communications that help share biblical truths with a wider audience.

Assistance in Biblical Queries

• Support allows for personnel to assist individuals with biblical questions or prayer needs across various locations including North Carolina, Fontana California, and Costa Rica.

• This outreach extends the true message of scriptures into Spanish-speaking countries globally, as well as Europe and South Africa.

Understanding the Apostles' Creed

Historical Context of the Apostles' Creed

• The Apostles' Creed was formulated by religious leaders under Constantine as a defining statement of faith for his new religion.

Key Elements of Jesus’ Ministry

• Jesus’ ministry is summarized in Matthew 4:23, highlighting His teaching in synagogues, preaching the kingdom's gospel, and healing all diseases among people.

The True Gospel According to Jesus

Importance of Studying Gospel Incidents

• To grasp what Jesus taught in synagogues, one must diligently study each incident recorded by gospel authors.

Illustrating the Kingdom's Message

• Everything Jesus said and did exemplified the gospel of the kingdom; His actions were supported by divine signs but aligned with Moses' teachings.

Authenticity of Prophets

Criteria for True Prophets

• Deuteronomy 13:1 instructs not to heed prophets who lead towards foreign gods; true prophets must align with God's commandments.

Jesus’ Adherence to Commandments

• Jesus passed authenticity tests by adhering strictly to Moses' commandments while performing miracles that clarified rather than contradicted them.

The Role of Grace

Understanding Grace vs. Commandments

• Grace should not be seen as permission to break God’s commandments; it empowers believers to live righteously amidst a corrupt world.

The Disciples’ Mission

Training Before Commissioning

• Ten months before His crucifixion, Jesus selected twelve disciples but trained them extensively before sending them out on missions.

Preaching Consistency

The True Gospel: A Testimony to All Nations

The Authentic Gospel of Jesus

• The speaker emphasizes that the gospel preached is the only true gospel authorized by Jesus for global teaching, contrasting it with popular narratives about Jesus' birth and resurrection.

• Reference to Matthew 28 highlights Jesus' final instructions to make disciples of all nations, emphasizing obedience to His commandments as a core aspect of the faith.

• Mark's account stresses the importance of preaching the gospel universally, indicating that belief and baptism are essential for salvation while disbelief leads to condemnation.

• The speaker cites Luke's account in Acts regarding receiving power from the Holy Spirit, which empowers believers to witness across various regions, including Jerusalem and beyond.